Embattled State Representative Todd Courser has resigned from the Michigan House of Representatives.
Courser submitted his resignation, which was written at his desk in the House chamber shortly before 3:15 a.m.
It is effective immediately.
His resignation came almost exactly an hour before the House voted 91 to 12 to expel Cindy Gamrat. Her expulsion followed an impassioned speech where Gamrat again asked to be censured. Only 73 votes were needed to remove her from office.
Gamrat was escorted from the House floor following her expulsion.
At 4:30 a.m., the House adjourned until Wednesday.
Courser and Gamrat have been embroiled in a sex scandal for the past month, during which they admitted to misusing public funds.
On Thursday afternoon before his resignation, Courser faced two votes that would have ended with his expulsion. However, lawmakers were unable to muster the two thirds super majority necessary to remove him from office.
On Friday morning, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder released the following statement about Courser and Gamrat's misconduct in office:
“I support the Michigan State Police in opening an investigation into any criminal activity by state Reps. Courser and Gamrat as requested by the Legislature in House Resolutions 141 & 145. This matter needs to be resolved and an investigation by MSP will provide even further clarity. I hope this investigation helps bring closure to the issue for all involved."
